Synonyms of quailing

quailing

verb

present participle of quail

1

as in flinching

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flinching
• recoiling
• wincing
• cringing
• trembling
• shuddering
• quivering
• shrinking
• hesitating
• quaking
• shaking
• crouching
• squinching
• blenching
• paling
• twitching
• retreating
• blanching
• wavering
• withdrawing
• whitening
• faltering
• reeling
• jerking
• receding
• retiring
• starting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approaching
• advancing
• facing
• confronting
• nearing
• defying
• challenging
• bearding

• approaching
• advancing
• facing
• confronting
• nearing
• defying
• challenging
• bearding

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2

as in cringing

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission

brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cringing
• flinching
• cowering
• grovelling
• recoiling
• groveling
• shrinking
• blanching
• fawning
• kowtowing
• toadying
• whitening
• squinching
• blenching